Hannah Harper Earns Spot in Top 9 with Standout ‘Landslide’ Performance on ‘American Idol’
Ahead of the show, Harper revealed a sweet gift she received from Carrie Underwood.
Hannah Harper; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
Hannah Harper landed a spot in American Idol’s Top 9 following a performance of “Landslide” on Idol’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode on Monday.
Mentored by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on American Idol
Harper and her fellow Top 11 contestants performed songs by legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and were mentored by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
For her performance, Harper did what she does best: gently plucked her guitar while delivering a standout vocal performance. She was accompanied by strings and let her vocals shine.
This performance once again drew praise from viewers.
“This was my favorite performance of any contestant the whole season. I knew Hannah would be amazing on this song but she exceeded all expectations. Just mesmerizing from start to finish. I hung on every word she was singing,” one wrote, while another shared, “Wow, star quality… I can see why America has fallen in love with her!”
Hannah Harper Earns Enough Votes to Advance to Top 9
While many fans praised her performance, others hoped to see her step more out of her comfort zone for this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode. Either way, she once again impressed and earned enough votes to advance to the next round.
Carrie Underwood Surprise Gift and Handwritten Note Shared Ahead of Show
Ahead of the show, Harper revealed a thoughtful gift and handwritten note she received from American Idol judge Carrie Underwood.
“Didn’t think my first piece of @tiffanyandco jewelry would come from @carrieunderwood,” she captioned the post. “But truly, the part that got me the most was the handwritten note. That meant more than anything. Just her taking the time to do that… it says everything about who she is. Y’all, she’s as down-to-earth and genuine as they come. Just a good, kind human. I love her dearly.”
American Idol Top 9 Revealed Following Live Eliminations
At the end of the episode, it was revealed that Philmon Lee and Rae would be going home. The Top 9 was revealed to be: Keyla Richardson, Lucas Leon, Daniel Stallworth, Braden Rumfelt, Kyndal, Jordan McCullough, Brooks, Hannah Harper, and Chris Tungseth.
What’s Next: Disney Night Returns with Guest Judge Jennifer Hudson
American Idol will return next week with the highly anticipated Disney Night, and 2004 Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson will return to the show as a guest judge and mentor.
This will mark Hudson’s first return to American Idol in 10 years and her first time mentoring contestants, helping guide the Top 9 as they perform iconic Disney songs with hopes to earn enough votes to earn a spot in the Top 7.
“Disney Night” on American Idol airs live Monday, April 20 from 8–10 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will be available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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